The LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center awarded degrees to 222 students during Commencement ceremonies held May 30, 2014, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Robert “Bob” Barnett, the noted Washington, D.C. attorney who has represented Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, along with a host of other government officials and media and television celebrities, served as Commencement speaker. LSU Law alum and political author and commentator James Carville (’73) introduced Mr. Barnett.

Some 220 students received the Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law and two students received the Master of Laws degree, according to LSU Law Center Chancellor Jack M. Weiss. Robert Yarborough, Chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, conferred degrees on behalf of the Board. Dr. Stuart Bell, LSU Executive Vice President and Provost, delivered brief remarks to the graduates. LSU Board of Supervisors board member Chester “Lee” Mallett also participated in the commencement exercises.

The first piece of advice Barnett gave to the Class of 2014 was to, “never forget where you came from.” Referencing the families of the graduates, Barnett said, “They are the people who helped you get here and they are the people who will, in uncountable times, help you as you live your lives.”

Barnett reminded the graduates to, “spend time on yourself, on those you love—not just your career.”

“The final piece of advice I’ll give,” said Barnett “is to at all costs guard your reputation. To lose that, there is no recapturing it.”

Chancellor Jack Weiss said to the Class of 2014, “My fervent wish for you is this: may the LSU Law diploma that you are about to receive be the passport to your dreams. . . and may you have the courage, the love and support to cling to your dreams and to follow your dreams wherever they may lead you . . .”

Five students graduated Summa Cum Laude, ranking within the top two percent of the graduating class. Twenty-two students graduated Magna Cum Laude, and 29 students graduated Cum Laude.

Twenty-two students were elected to membership in The Order of the Coif, a national honorary law fraternity that elects to membership students from the highest ten percent of the senior class. Inductees were honored in separate ceremonies at the Law Center prior to commencement. LSU Law alum Stephen A. Dixon (’87), Senior Staff Attorney with Children’s Rights, a national advocacy group in New York City, was named Honorary Member of The Order of the Coif.

Also joining in this year’s commencement ceremonies were members of the LSU Law Center Class of 1964, this year’s Golden Graduates.

This year, the LSU Law Center inaugurated a new tradition when the 3L Class President, Carlo Joseph Gulina II, led the academic procession carrying the Law Center’s newly created ceremonial mace. The ceremonial mace is the generous gift of the Class of 2014. The mace is made of solid Louisiana sinker cypress and was hand-crafted by a local artisan. The ceremonial mace will be featured in all future Law Center commencement ceremonies.